The Top Seven Places to Retire七地养老，无憾人生！

2018-01-06罗布巴登吴真真审订闫冉

英语世界 2017年6期

关键词：马耳他巴拿马马来西亚

文/罗布·巴登译/吴真真审订/闫冉

By Rob Budden

The Top Seven Places to Retire七地养老，无憾人生！

文/罗布·巴登译/吴真真审订/闫冉

ByRob Budden

These days most of us can expect our retirement to last for more than a couple of decades. So, with life expectancy1life expectancy 预期寿命。on the rise where you choose to spend those twilight years2twilight years 古稀之年。is more important than ever.

[2] A growing number of pensioners are seeking far-flung destinations.They’re lured by hours of sunshine, a slower pace of life, favourable tax rates,and the prospect of a more fulfilling lifestyle where their income goes much further than it does at home. Considered carefully, retiring abroad can deliver all of the above without compromising home comforts or quality healthcare.

[3] From tropical towns in Thailand to coastal comforts in Central America,our guide to the seven best countries to retire has it all.

Panama

我们大多希望自己可以多享受几十年的养老光阴。因此，随着预期寿命的延长，选择在哪里度过自己的暮年变得前所未有的重要。

[2]越来越多申领养老金的人正期望到更广阔的世界中寻求自己的养老天地。他们向往更长的日照时间、更慢的生活节奏、优惠的税收政策，希望退休金可以支持他们享受比国内更久、更好的生活。仔细想来，走出国门去养老，生活的舒适度没有降低，医疗的质量没有削减，而且可以实现上述多种愿望。

[3]从泰国的热带小镇到中美洲舒适的海滨城市，我们为您精心挑选了七个绝佳的养老胜地！

巴拿马

[4] Panama, the southernmost country in Central America tops the 2016 global retirement havens listings compiled byInternational Living, with what the magazine describes as “hands down the best package of retirement benefits in the world”. These include discounts for retirees on transport, entertainment,medicine and energy bills.

[5] To receive these wide array of benefits all you need is a Pensionado Visa, for which you need to be over 18 years of age and have a pension of at least $1,000 a month to qualify (both private or social-security payments count). The currency, the Panamanian balboa, is pegged to the dollar, so US retirees shouldn’t face shocks from currency swings.

[6] Savings will go a long way here too. Even without these pension benefits, living costs are already low compared to many countries in Europe,North America and Australasia3Australasia澳大拉西亚（包括澳大利亚、新西兰及太平洋西南岛屿）。, with a three-course meal for two in a midrange restaurant4mid-range restaurant中档餐厅。in Panama costing $30,according to numbeo.com, a website that tracks the prices of everyday items.

[7] Property prices are also reasonable, with foreigners having the same property rights as Panamanians.Purchasing a three-bedroom property in the popular mountain town of Boquete would cost about $179,000, according to globalpropertyguide.com.

[4]巴拿马共和国——中美洲最南部的国家，在环球旅行杂志《国际生活》2016年收录的 “全球养老宜居”国家中位列榜首。杂志称之“一直以来都有世界上最好的养老福利”。退休老人的福利包括：乘坐公共交通工具、娱乐场所消费、医疗护理、支付能源账单时均能享受折扣。

[5]一本退休签证在手，即可尊享以上诸多待遇。只要年龄在18周岁以上，每月有不低于1000美元的养老金（个人账户或者社保账户），就能办理退休签证。巴波亚是巴拿马的流通货币，其汇价与美元挂钩，所以美国人入境巴拿马养老不用担心汇率波动的影响。

[6]储蓄也可以在这里使用很久。即便没有上述养老福利，这里的生活成本也远低于欧洲、北美洲和澳大拉西亚诸国。根据追踪日常消费价格数据的网站numbeo.com，在巴拿马的中档餐馆，30美元英镑就可使两人享用三道菜肴。

[7]房地产价位也合理。在巴拿马居住的外籍人士享受和本地居民一样的产权。根据网站globalpropertyguide.com，在巴拿马，只需179,000美元就可在颇受欢迎的博克特购置一套三居室的房子。

[8] Panama has an internationally well-regarded healthcare system, with many doctors trained in the US and Europe. However, retirees should allow at least $200 a month to cover private health insurance.

[9] The biggest downside for many retirees is the country’s poor road infrastructure5infrastructure基础设施。outside of Panama City.But balance that against Panama’s affordability, leisure options and proximity to the US—just two-and-ahalf hours flight from Miami—and it’s easy to see the country’s draw.

[10] And compared to some Central American countries, Panama is relatively safe, according to Overseas Security Advisory Council, a body set up by the US Department of State,whose primary aim is to assist private sector in identifying and tracking security threats.

Ecuador

[11] Ecuador ranks second in the 2016 listings, compiled byInternational Livingmagazine, on its generous retirement benefits, affordable housing and a great climate.

[8]巴拿马的医疗体系在国际上享有盛誉，许多医生在美国和欧洲接受过训练。但是，退休人员每个月至少要花费200美元才能覆盖个人医疗保险项目的费用。

[9]对诸多来此养老的人来说，最大的缺憾莫过于：城外的路况较差，设施简陋。但是巴拿马物价低廉，休闲方式众多，而且距离美国本土较近——从迈阿密出发经过两个半小时的飞行就能到达——这个国家的好处显而易见，这些优势弥补了市政管理上的不足。

[10]海外安全顾问委员会是美国国务院建立的一家实体机构，专门对私人领域的安全威胁进行识别和追踪。据其报告：和某些中美洲国家相比，巴拿马的治安是相对安全的。

厄瓜多尔

[11]厄瓜多尔养老福利优渥，住房经济适用，气候得天独厚，因此在《国际生活》收录的2016全球养老宜居国家名单中位列第二。

[12] Resting on the equator, the country enjoys 12 hours of daylight every day throughout the year. In addition, the highlands of Ecuador,which include popular expat destinations like Cuenca, Cotacachi,and Vilcabamba, sit several thousand feet above sea level, giving residents a year-round spring-like climate.

[13] For housing costs, there are few countries that can beat Ecuador. In the popular colonial city of Cuenca, for example, a two-bedroom apartment can be rented for $500 a month or less.

[14] To live here though, retirees will need to learn Spanish, as English is not widely spoken and expats will have to adapt to a limited national road infrastructure.

[15] But there are plenty of perks.Like Panama, Ecuador offers a wide range of desirable retiree benefits,including half-price public transport for those aged 65 or over and IVA (valueadded tax) refunds on many purchases.

[16] The Ecuadorian government also made a recent change to its healthcare system that will likely prove a major pull for expats. Since 2014, foreign retirees in Ecuador have been able to join the country’s national health care system, which is managed by the country’s Social Security administration, at a cost of about $70 a month. At the same time,age and pre-existing medical condition restrictions were removed. Previously,those older than 60 weren’t eligible for membership. Retirees can also opt for private healthcare.

[12]这个位于赤道的国家全年都享有12个小时的日照时间。另外，厄瓜多尔三个受欢迎的移民城市——昆卡、科塔卡奇和比尔卡班巴——都位于高原地带，海拔数千英尺，这里的居民可享受四季如春的宜人气候。

[13]就住房成本而言，厄瓜多尔的房价几乎是全球最低。以著名的殖民城市昆卡为例，一套两居室公寓的月租不过500美元甚至更少。

[14]虽属南美洲国家，但英语在这里的使用并不广泛，来这里养老的居民有必要学会西班牙语，并且还要适应这个国家简陋的公路设施。

[15]但还有其他方面的多种福利待遇。和巴拿马一样，厄瓜多尔提供一系列诱人的养老福利，受益面广，如年龄在65岁及以上的老人乘坐公共交通享受半价优惠，在许多购物项目上享受返还增值税的优惠。

[16]厄瓜多尔政府近期对医疗体系做出调整，未来可成为吸引移民的主要亮点。2014年以后，外来养老人员就已有资格进入厄瓜多尔社会保障部门主导的国民医疗体系，按制度规定，每个月需缴纳社保费70美元。在调整之前，60岁以上的老年人没有资格申报养老，而调整之后，不再有申报养老的年龄和健康状况的限制。养老人员也可以选择个人投保。

Malaysia

[17] For year-round sunshine and diversity, consider Malaysia, which offers everything from tropical beaches and remote rainforests to the highrise bustle of capital, Kuala Lumpur.This former British colony is also an inexpensive place to live, withInternational Livingplacing it among the cheapest places to live in its global cost of living index.

[18] Add to this widely-spoken English, low cost of restaurants and direct foreign ownership of property freehold, and it is easy to see the country’s appeal for older expats.

[19] The magazine reports that a couple can live comfortably in a spacious luxury apartment for less than$1,000 a month. Xpatulator.com, a website that analyses costs for expats,rates healthcare and accommodation costs in Malaysia as “very low”. But be warned, not everything is cheap here: many imported goods, from cars to wine spirits, are often sky-high as a result of local taxes.

马来西亚

[17]想要终年阳光普照，多元文化碰撞的环境，你可以选择马来西亚。这里有：热带沙滩、僻静雨林以及高楼林立、繁忙鼎盛的首都吉隆坡。它曾是英国的殖民地，消费较低。《国际生活》将马来西亚列为世界上生活成本最低廉的国家之一。

[18]除了英文作为交流语言普及之外，马来西亚的餐馆经营成本较低，外国移民也可直接申请购房。这个国家对养老移民的吸引力显而易见。

[19]据《国际生活》报道，在马来西亚，一对夫妇每月花费不到1000美元就能入住一套宽敞舒适的豪华公寓。据移民成本分析网站xpatulator.com，马来西亚联邦外籍移民的医保缴费额度及住宿成本“相当低廉”。但还需提个醒：由于当地税收缘故，并非所有商品都便宜，从汽车到酒水，凡是进口货物，往往售价甚高。

[20] Malaysia also ranks as one of the world’s top “medical tourism”destinations attracting more than 700,000 healthcare travellers in 2013,according to the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council.

[21] Under the country’s secondhome program, retiree residency is relatively easy to obtain. The visa lasts for 10 years and extends to your spouse and children. The minimum monthly income requirement is 10,000 Malaysian ringgit6ringgit林吉特，马来西亚货币。(around $2,320).Retirees also typically benefit from pension, or social-security income,which is exempt from Malaysian taxes.

Spain

[22] Spain was one of the biggest victims of the Eurozone debt crisis:its economy plunged into recession in 2008, sending property prices sharply downwards and unemployment spiralling.

[23] But its economy is finally on the mend with growth expected to top 3%in 2015, according to the International Monetary Fund, one of the strongest rates of growth across the Eurozone.Although unemployment remains high, jobs are being created and estate agents are reporting rising demand for property in cities like Barcelona and Madrid. Across the country as a whole,however, agents estimate prices are still around 40% below the peaks reached in 2007, giving retirees the opportunity to potentially snap up a bargain.

[20]据马来西亚保健旅游理事会的报告：马来西亚被列为世界上最受欢迎的“保健旅游”目的地国家之一，仅2013年一年就吸引了700,000多名参加保健旅游项目的旅游者。

[21]马来西亚联邦政府推出的“我的第二家园”计划使来此的养老人士能相对便利地获取居住权。退休签证有效期长达10年，并且可携带配偶及子女。申请此项目要求月收入不低于10,000林吉特（马来西亚货币单位，折合约2320美元）。退休人员尤可从养老金或社会保障金免税的政策中获益良多。

西班牙

[22]西班牙是欧债危机最大的受害者之一，其经济于2008年陷入衰退，房产价格急剧下跌，失业率节节攀升。

[23]据国际货币基金组织，2015年西班牙的经济终于恢复元气，实现3%的涨幅，是欧元区经济涨幅最大的国家之一。虽失业率居高不下，但就业岗位在不断增加。从全国房地产代理商处获悉：巴塞罗那和马德里这些城市的房产需求正在上扬。然而，就西班牙全境而言，房产价格仍比2007年峰值时低40%左右。来此养老有机会抢先低价购房。

[24] Retirees in Spain enjoy one of the finest climates in Europe, particularly on the Mediterranean coastal region where the weather is characterised by hot sunny summers and mild winters.

[25] Spain also ranks high for its infrastructure according toInternational Livingmagazine, with its modern road networks, extensive public transport coverage and widespread high speed internet coverage.

Malta

[26] Among the smallest and most densely-populated countries in the world, Malta covers just 120 sq-miles and boasts a population of 400,000.With English the first language for many on this southern European island,Brits flock here. More than 5,000 UK citizens live on Malta, located just a three-hour flight from London. Aside from the abundant sunshine and an average annual temperature of 18 C or 64 F, an added draw is the “Malta Retirement Plan,” which allows EU nationals who take up residency to enjoy an income-tax rate of 15%.

[24]西班牙有着欧洲最好的气候，尤其是在地中海沿岸地区——夏日晴朗热烈，冬日温和宜人。

[25]《国际生活》称，西班牙的市政设施也堪称一流，拥有现代化的交通路网，公共交通四通八达，高速网络全面覆盖。

马耳他

[26]马耳他是世界上地域面积最小、人口分布最密集的国家，占地面积仅有120平方英里，却拥有400,000的人口。这个欧洲南部岛国许多人的第一语言都是英语，大批的英国人在这里定居。有5000多名英国公民在马耳他生活，这里到伦敦只有3个小时的飞行航程。除了充足的阳光、年平均温度18摄氏度或64华氏度的适宜温度，“马耳他养老计划”也极具吸引力——欧盟公民来此定居享有“按15%的比例征收所得税”的优惠条件。

[27] Named after the local word for honey, Malta holds a wider appeal as a retirement destination. The country boasts a first-rate healthcare system(ranked fifth in the world by the World Health Organization) that is free to all citizens, as well as British residents,under a reciprocal healthcare provision with the UK. And cost of living here is reasonable too. According to website numbeo.com, the monthly rent for a three-bedroom apartment in the capital,Valletta, is 990 euros ($1,080) and a three-course meal for two at a midrange restaurant costs 50 euros ($55).

[28] The downsides? The picturesque Mediterranean island’s public transport system fails to match that of many other western countries. Expats also report that imported consumer goods can either be difficult to find or significantly more expensive than back home.

Portugal

[29] From beaches and golf courses,to fishing villages and medieval towns,Portugal offers its own allure. With a well-established expat population,English is also widely spoken.

[30] The capital, Lisbon, is one of the oldest cities in the world and ranks as of one of the world’s most liveable,according to the most recent annual study by the Economist Intelligence Unit.

[27]“马耳他”一词取自当地语言，意为“蜂蜜”。如今马耳他吸引着更多的人来此养老。这里拥有世界一流的医疗服务体系（在世界卫生组织对各国医疗体系的综合排名中名列第五）。根据马耳他和英国签署的医疗互惠条款，英国公民可以和马耳他公民一样享受免费医疗。另外，栖居于此，生活花销也并不高。据numbeo.com的数据显示：在首都瓦莱塔，租一套三居室的公寓，每月的租金是990欧元，折合1080美元；在一家中档餐馆，两人花费50欧元即55美元可食三道菜。

[28]那么，在马耳他生活有哪些不足之处呢？作为地中海岛国，风光宜人，但其公共交通体系与诸多其他西方国家相差较远。移民人士也反映，在马耳他很难买到进口商品，即便买到了，其价格也远比在自己国家买的要贵。

葡萄牙

[29]从海滩、高尔夫球场，到渔村以及中世纪的小镇，无不绽放着葡萄牙独具特色的魅力。这里的移民众多，英语是广泛使用的交流语言。

[30]首都里斯本是世界上最古老的城市之一，而经济学人智库的一项最新年度研究报告表明，它也是世界上最宜居的城市之一。

[31] The top destination in the country for retirees, however, remains the Algarve coastline, which hugs the Atlantic Ocean and promises azure waters, lots of sunshine and temperatures averaging from 12C (54F)in January to 24C (74F) in July.

[32] But if you are in search of warm, dry winters you are likely to be disappointed. While the country benefits from a temperate Mediterranean climate, winter in Portugal’s coastal resorts tend to be much wetter than in neighbouring Spain.

[33] Still, wherever retirees choose to settle, Portugal offers beneficial tax regimes. Under the country’s nonhabitual resident’s scheme, foreignsourced pension income can be exempt from income tax for a period of up to a decade.

[34] Property prices are also reasonable beyond the country’s luxury resort towns, such as Quinta do Lago or Vilamoura. Average monthly rents for a 350-sq-metre villa in the Algarve are around 1,635 euros ($1,790), according to website globalpropertyguide.com.

Thailand

[35] Known as the “The Land of Smiles”, Thailand offers expats retiring here plenty to smile about—a low cost of living, tropical clime, culture that respects older people plus no tax on retiree income from abroad.

[31]境内最适宜养老之地莫过于阿尔加维海岸线一带，那里面朝大西洋，海水碧蓝，阳光充足，气候怡人，每年1月到7月的平均气温在12摄氏度（54华氏度）到24摄氏度（74华氏度）之间。

[32]葡萄牙的冬天温暖却并不干燥。受温和的地中海气候影响，葡萄牙海岸地区的冬天要比邻国西班牙温润潮湿得多。

[33]不过，无论入境葡萄牙移民养老的人士选择在何处定居，葡萄牙政府都会为他们奉上一份福利厚礼——优惠的税收政策。根据葡萄牙非经常性居民税收政策，境外养老金可在长达十年的时间里免征所得税。

[34] globalpropertyguide.com的数据显示：除金塔湖或维拉摩拉这样的豪华海滨度假村之外，其他地区的房产价格要合理得多。在阿尔加维，每月支付大约1635欧元即1790美元就能租上一套面积为350平方米的别墅。

泰国

[35]泰国，以“微笑之国”著称于世。移民泰国的养老人士也可以“笑对夕阳红”，且看：生活成本低廉，热带雨林气候，社会文化尊老敬老，对境外养老金免征所得税。

[36]International Livingmagazine ranked the country as one of the cheapest in its cost of living index, buoyed by competitive property prices. Eating out remains reasonable with a typical Pad Thai lunch available from just $1.

[37] As well, the country’s retirement visa, which is renewable annually, is available to all retirees with monthly pensions of 65,000 Thai baht7Thai baht泰铢。($1,800)or to pensioners depositing 800,000 baht ($22,125) in a Thai bank account.

[38] While the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office rates many private hospitals in Thailand equivalent to western standards, it says standards at local hospitals can vary. Retirees should therefore budget to pay for local health insurance.